OBJECTIVES: Social support was previously regarded as acting only a stress modifier, but many recent studies have found a direct effect on stress. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of social support on job stress and psychosocial stress to determine whether it acts via direct effect or indirect effect. METHODS: This study was performed in May 2003. The study population consisted of 425 male workers in an automobile factory in Korea. Data were collected with structured self-administered questionnaires. We used JCQ(Job Contents Questionnaires) to measure job stress and social support, and PWI-SF(Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form) to measure stress outcome. We analysed the relationships using Structural Equation Modeling software AMOS4. RESULTS: It was found that social support acts both as a direct stressor and an indirect stressor via job stress. However the direct effect was double the indirect effect. CONCLUSIONS: The direct effect of social support on stress was the more major. Therefore social support is an independent stressor rather than a stress modifier in automobile factory workers.
Automobiles* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Questionnaires

The incidence rate of industrial accidents tends to decrease since 1984. It seems to be caused by the active prevention activities for industrial accidents, however, there has been some concern for under-reporting of industrial injuries and illnesses. This study was carried out to assess the status of injury occurrences and industrial accident reports. The author reviewed and analysed the record from an infirmary of an automobile related factory from May 1994 to April 1998. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The number of injuries were 665 spells during four years and incidence rates per year per 100 persons were 39.57(1995), 39.04(1996) and 36.86(1997). The incidence rate of industrial injuries that needed over four days of medical treatment were 4.32 %, 6.51 % and 4.90 %, respectively by the year. 2. The highest incidence rate by age was the 20-29 age group (46.30 %) and by working duration was the under five years group (46.18 %). 3. A total of 665 injuries were occurred by 244 workers. Workers who experienced over five accidents were 41 persons (16.8 %) with 285 injuries and the proportion of total spells was 42.9 %. 4. Workers who experienced over 5 accidents were the younger group, had under five years working duration and worked at the position of frequently using hand tools. 5. Among the 665 spells, the injuries that needed over four days of medical treatment were 93 spells (14.0 %) and the reported proportion as an industrial accident was 8.6 % (eight spells). The results suggest that improvement of the report system is required to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the industrial accident statistics, and analysing all accidents would be necessary to setup the strategy for prevention even if they are minor injuries.
Accidents, Occupational ; Automobiles* ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Plants*

Pneumocephalus is defined as the presence of air within the cranial cavity. Trauma such as automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, and missile injuries is the most common cause of pneumocephalus. There have previously been four reported cases of pneumocephalus following stab wounds to the neck in the English literature. We present an unusual case of pneumocephalus following a neck stab wound with a review of the literatures.
Automobiles ; Motorcycles ; Neck ; Pneumocephalus ; Wounds, Stab

Automobiles ; China ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Risk Assessment

Orbital fractures are increasing in frequency with the rise in number of automobile accidents and the development of industries. It may be difficult to detect fractures with plain X-rarys of the orbit, because of the superimposition of the shadow by bony structures. Even minor alterations in head position can cause a significant change of shadow. Computed tomography is extremely accurate and can be diagnostic with respect to the location and size of the fractures, because it provides detailed visualization of both the bones and soft tissues of the orbits. We studied 89 patients with orbital fractures proven by computed tomography and the results are as follows: 1. Orbital fractures occurred most frequently between the ages of 11 and 40 years. 2. The causes of orbital fractures were traffic accidents(46.1%), contact with human bodies(24.7%), fall-down injuries(14.6%) and others(14.6%). 3. There was no significant difference in the incidence of orbital fracture between the right and left eyes. 4. In single wall fractures, medial wall fractures were most common, followed by factures of inferior, superior and lateral walls in order. 5. In combined wall fractures, medial and inferior wall fractures were most common.
Accidents, Traffic ; Automobiles ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Orbit* ; Orbital Fractures*

Automobiles ; Egypt ; Industrial Waste ; Industry ; organization & administration ; Waste Management

OBJECTIVES: To know the present conditions of industrial accidents in automobile factories in Korea and make the basic materials essential to prevention of industrial accidents METHODS: We reviewed and analyzed the records of industrial accidents occurred in an automobile factory in 1997 by time of occurrence, job categories(fixed production, skilled trades, mechanical material handling, and clerical 8r technical), type of injury, kind of accident, and location of injury. RESULTS: 1. By age groups, the accident rate was the highest in age 45-49(1.6 %o) followed by age 35-39(1.3 %), 40-44(0.9 %), 30-34(0.9 %), 25-29(0.6 %), and 20-24(0.4 %) and by working duration, it was highest in group of experience over 25 years, and so we could see that the more age or working duration increases the more accident rate increases. 2. By work time, the accident rate was the highest in 10-11 a.m. (21.4 %) followed by 2-3 p.m. (17.9%). By the day of the week, it was as follows, Friday(20.5%) Wednesday (17. 9%), Monday (16. 2 %), Thesday (15. 4 %), Saturday (12. 0 %), Thursday(11.1 %), Sunday(6.8 %) in order. By the month, it was high in May(17.9 %), March(11.1 %), and April(11.1 %) followed by August(10.3 %) and January(9.4 %), so we could see it was high in spring. 3. The most frequent injury was in the back by 41.0 % followed by 17 cases in fingers(14.5 %), legs(9.4 %), hands(7.7 %), head(6.0 %) in order. And by the type of injuries, the sprain was most frequent by 38. 5% followed by fracture(22. 2 %, lumbar HNP(11.1 %), and contusion(9.4 %) in order. The causes of accident were handling heavy materials(34.2 %), upset(17.1 %), stenosis(16.2 %), and falling(6.8 %) in order. CONCLUSIONS: By the above results, to prevent the industrial accidents in automobile factories in Korea, preventive activities for handling heavy materials and back injury, and continuous industrial education are necessary.
Accidents, Occupational* ; Automobiles* ; Back Injuries ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Sprains and Strains

Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is uncommon, but requires a prompt diagnosis and repair. Diaphragmatic injury is most commonly associated with automobile accidents. The diagnosis is difficult and may be delayed because there are no specific symptoms, signs, or radiographic studies that are pathognomic for diaphragmatic injury. The most important factor in the diagnosis is a high suspicion and the use of proper diagnostic studies. We report a case involving the delayed presentation of diaphragmatic rupture in a 54 year old man, requiring surgical repair 12 days following multiple blunt trauma. It should be noted that early recognition for diaphragmatic injury is important in patients with multiple trauma to avoid the potential fatal complications.
Automobiles ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diaphragm ; Humans ; Multiple Trauma ; Rupture

OBJECTIVES: A cross sectional study was carried out in the welders exposed to manganese and control group. The aim of this study was to assess the adverse effects of manganese on central nervous system of welders. METHODS: The study group consisted of 49 welders and the reference group, 49 workers matched with welders for age and educational level in automobile manufacturing company. Concentration of manganese in welding hume, in blood, and cumulative exposure index(CEI) were determined for each subject. For each group, computerized neurobehavioral test including Simple Reaction Time, Digit Symbol, Digit Span, and Finger Tapping Speed of Swedish Performance Evaluation System were applied. RESULTS: Exposure level of manganese in welders were very low(mean CEI 0.069). Welders exposed to manganese had slower response speed, slower motor steadiness, and shorter memory span than control group. But these differences were not statistically significant. The performance of Finger Tapping Speed tended to lower as environmental and biological exposure index got higher. Other neurobehavioral tests were found to have a little association with the exposure indices. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference of neurobehavioral performance between welders and control group. This study indicates that Finger Tapping Speed measuring motor steadiness might be a one of useful tests for early detection of adverse effects of welding on central nervous system.
Automobiles ; Central Nervous System ; Fingers ; Manganese* ; Memory ; Reaction Time ; Welding

When a pedestrian was hit by bumper and runover by tire of car, tire impression marks or damaged skin and fractured born marks were remained on dead body. Namely, to obtain the best result for analysis of traffic accident involved damaged human body, it must be considered both the analysis of autopsy and the analysis of traffic accident reconstruction. As these kinds of cases were managed to solve when one part of analysis was not for sure but some cases were missing because we have any regulated system to comply the results of both parts. This case is as follows, As soon as the child run across the street, the automobile was passing by and he went into between front tire and read tire and he was runover by rear tire and he died. Unfortunately this case was treated by police as the child was fault. However we studied this case both the analysis of tire impression and damaged mark of dead body and the aspect of traffic accident reconstruction. Finally, we found out the fact that the car hit the child and runover front and rear tire of the car. This case is valuable because we could find the truth that the child was not fault. Like this manner, here we would like to suggest a system or any kinds of organization should be considered so that the two forensic parts can be analyze together.
Accidents, Traffic ; Automobiles* ; Autopsy ; Child ; Human Body ; Humans ; Police ; Skin